Prince Harry set to learn outcome of claim against Daily Mirror publisher
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Prince Harry is set to learn the outcome of his claim against the publisher of the Daily Mirror for alleged unlawful information gathering.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) – which also publishes the Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People – after claiming its journalists were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and using private investigators for unlawful activities.
His case was heard alongside claims brought by actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell and most famous for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, together with fellow soap actress, Nikki Sanderson, and the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse, Fiona Wightman.
They allege the unlawful activity took place from 1991 up to 2011.
A ruling is expected to be given on Friday by Mr Justice Fancourt, who oversaw a high-profile trial of the allegations in June this year.
The seven-week trial saw dozens of witnesses give evidence, including former journalists, editors, private investigators and MGN executives.
Many other witness also submitted written testimony to the trial, such as the friends, family and colleagues of those bringing cases against the publisher.
In his opening arguments, the duke’s lawyer, David Sherborne claimed that Mirror journalists listened to voicemail messages from Princess Diana while Piers Morgan was editor of the newspaper
He also told the court how alleged intrusion caused “mistrust” between Harry and Prince William, and that “the ups and downs and ins and outs” of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy “were all revealed and picked apart by the three Mirror Group titles” – something that was “clearly driven by unlawful activity”.
Prince Harry himself faced eight hours of questioning over two days during a landmark court appearance which attracted international media coverage.
MGN largely contested the claims and denied that any newspaper articles complained of resulted from phone hacking.
The vast majority did not arise from any other unlawful activity, the publisher said.
MGN made a limited number of admissions of unlawful activity in relation to the duke, Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman, for which the publisher apologised and accepted they will be entitled to some damages.
But it denied the majority of their claims – and Mr Turner’s entire case.
It is just one of a series of court battles between the duke and the British press.
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His libel claim against the Mail on Sunday over an article about security arrangements must go to trial, a judge at London’s High Court ruled last Friday.
On Monday, the duke was ordered to pay the newspaper almost £50,000 after losing his bid to strike out part of the newspaper’s defence in the libel case.
